The driver of a tractor-trailer rig that crashed through a guardrail and into Seattle's Duwamish River survived with the help of a passer-by.

The man was heading from Tacoma to the Port of Seattle on State Route 99 with a load of frozen fish Wednesday when he ended up in the water.

KOMO-TV says respiratory therapist Jereme Lane stopped on his drive home to see if he could help. Lane says he noticed the driver banging on the skylight of his truck. So Lane took off his jacket and jumped in the river. The two men made it back to shore although Lane says they "half drowned each other on the way."

The Washington Transportation Department is investigating.

Crews spent hours trying to get the big rig out of the water. After the cables on a heavy-duty tow truck snapped, they called for a crane. Portions of four roads were closed for hours.

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Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/